Launched on December 28, 1994, the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT) is a limited liability company registered under the Companies Ordinance (Ch. 13 No. 1) and specializes in project management. The Corporation’s line Ministry is the Ministry of Planning, Housing and the Environment. Under the oversight of a Board of Directors, with day to day management by an Executive Chairman and a core of highly trained and experienced professionals, UDeCOTT is charged with bringing the infrastructural aspects of the Government’s Vision 2020to reality, with oversight of over 60 of the nation’s development projects. The rationale for the establishment of UDeCOTT was based on the following:

The decision to give greater focus to the capital city of Port of Spain as a business and financial centre

The continued regeneration of the city of San Fernando

The development of 13 major urban centres including Tobago as identified in the National Physical Development Plan

This strategy for the creation of a specific company to spearhead this initiative derives from the success of similar institutions popular in many countries across the world including Jamaica and throughout the United Kingdom.

Roles

UDeCOTT delivers on its mandate by using two approaches:

Project Manager

Development Facilitator

The specific approach selected depends on the type of project, the context of development and the requirements of the stakeholders.

UDeCOTT as Project Manager

UDeCOTT can be retained as a Project Manager by Government Ministries to provide project development services beginning with the project conception and ending with delivery of the completed project. In this role, UDeCOTT acts as an agent and provides the following specific services:

Project identification and formulation

Feasibility studies

Planning and environmental studies

Procuring consulting services for architectural and engineering design

Procuring contractors for infrastructure and building construction

Arranging construction management services

Preparing project budgets

Assisting with project financing negotiations

Providing financial management and reporting services.

UDeCOTT as Development Facilitator

UDeCOTT can be retained as Development Facilitator and function essentially as a consultant. UDeCOTT will undertake responsibility for the physical, economic, financial and environmental planning of a project and will mobilize the resources to implement the project.